Laurent Grauwels aka Homerun is a Brussels based producer and all around nice guy. Heard this weekend he released something on the always interesting label Freerange (Black Joy, Trackheadz, Swell sessions, …). On the compilation “Colour series: Orange 05”. He’s on the vinyl sampler too. Nice artwork and everything. There are even 2 Belgian producers on that. The other one is Compuphonic. Anyway the Homerun track is good and has been championed by none other than Laurent Garnier. Good one. Like the other tunes on the Myspace even better. That “Sean Penn” is gold.

Uploaded another edit of mine on our Myspace. Nothing fancy, just a little groove workout to use in my sets. Beginning to really like it, all that editting. But it’s only a tool to spice up my sets with exclusives and songs that otherwise don’t really fit. Producing songs of my own is the step I really want to take. This is just spielerei. Nevertheless enjoy.

Nice little interview Alex from On-Point did with Trus’me at the Onda Sonora party we did on Easter Sunday. Enjoy.

This Saturday I’ll be playing records in public again. It’s been a while since I’ve done that. Nothing fancy, just a little party for United Music’s 3rd birthday at the Booze ‘n Blues café. Other people playing records are Phil H., Tristan, Kwak and DJ ReeDoo, owner of the shop, himself.

This Friday it’s Tilt! at le Bazaar. Last one was nice, next one will be with us. Recommended.

The weekend starts on Wednesday. With Kenny Dope playing at Stereo Sushi.

Short week coming up. Busy weekend. Will let you know what’s up on this Blog.

Had a strange weekend myself. Although it was the first real warm period since ages I caught a cold. And my wisdom teeth are saying hi in a not so funny fashion. Made me do less than planned. Had some good moments too though. Saw Phyllis Dekeyser, went to Merchtem and took my first little steps as a producer.

Anyway everything just feels like killing time before Southport Weekender. Need my fix badly.

It’s a good year for Soul. Erykah, Tawiah, Steve Spacek doing dope features everywhere and some hot talent boiling up from the underground like Muhsinah, Yaw and Tony Ozier. Been hooked to the last one’s “Nobody” for quite some time now. Smoky Soul the way I like it. It’s up for grabs on his Myspace. More of his music is available on the usual download sites (I mean the legal ones).

Lotsa things to do in Brussels. Tonight there’s Robert Owens at the Living Club and Kwak & 72Soul at Café Belga. Tomorrow Kwak will be playing at Le Tavernier. Busy guy. I’ll be doing the private party thing this weekend. Birthdays, baby showers and stuff.

This is beginning to look like the Laid Back blog but here we go again. Sunday May 4th they will broadcast their show on FM Brussel live from the legendary café L’Archiduc, Rue Antoine Dansaert 6. If the long weekend hasn’t taken too much of me Iim there.

The Live artists who’ll be performing in a few weeks at Southport Weekender 42. Just to let those missing out know what they won’t see. Some of you lot really got to come next time. And book your tickets now or it’s sold out again.

Anyway pretty siked about about these artists.

Blackbyrds - Live in Concert
Fertile Ground - Live in Concert
Eric Roberson - Live in Concert
Luisito Quintero - Live in Concert
Tortured Soul - Live in Concert
Tawiah - Live in Concert
Sunburst Band doing the Sunday afternoon finale.

A celebration of King Street Records 15th Anniversary with recording artists;
Barbara Tucker - Live PA
Roland Clark - Live PA
Joi Cardwell - Live PA
Monique Bingham - Live PA

You probably have seen some of them already but now they are all neatly gathered on Youtube. I’m talking about Alex On-Point Deforce’s video interviews. With FS Green, Flying Lotus, Ame, Baloji, Soul:ID, Soil & Pimp, … . Some dope and inspired DYI musical journalism filling the gaps left by the more mainstream media.

Lots of good stuff on VPRO’s Luisterpaal. You can hear the entire new albums from Plantlife, Portishead, De Jeugd Van Tegenwoordig, Jamie Lidell & Lyrics Born.

Told you those Laid Back people were on fire. Here’s some more news about them. They launched an online Radio Station. In it’s premature fase but already looking nice (can’t get it to produce sound on this darn computer). All you got to know on their site. The radio itself you’ll find here. Big up to Julius & crew.

Good free music and nice visuals offered by the Adult Swim and Ghostly International people. Yummy.

Looks like the Boys from Da Herbeez got a new spot to play regularly. Dope.

Those who were at the Phil Cooper / Rainer Trüby party at Café Bota last September will remember it as an ace party. You can enjoy their set again here. At least the first part of it. More parts will follow on the Podcast. Big up to Phil for sharing this.

Some new additions to the Worldwide Festival roster … among them one DJ Lefto … nice one … got my ticket, booked my place to stay, so I’m there

Feeling shit today. Because of yesterday’s game. It was a bloody sell out, I tell you.

Anyway. Cut back on going out this weekend to get some other things done. Finished 2 mixes. One that’s already online on our Podcast page. Really need my Southport fix. And I’m not the only one. Hope you like the mix. Hope it prepares all those going a bit. And if you’re wondering what the hell is in the picture that’s going with the Podcast post. It’s our Sunday morning breakfast table at the 40th edition of the weekender last year. Some deliciously spiked chocolate milk. Haha.

The other mix is the promotion mix for our second Go Bang! party. Like Disco Dalglish did for the first edition I recorded a mix we will distribute to introduce people to what our party stands for. Expect a rather eclectic mix going from 70’s Soul to Disco, 80’s pop, some top re-edits, soulful House classics, Brazilian jazz and even Detroit (influenced) Techno. I slipped in a Red D track too to introduce our guest a little. From next weekend on we’ll be handing them out. The week before the party I’ll put it online on the Onda Sonora Podcast. So don’t panic if you can’t get hold of one.

And congratulations to Sofie, Peter and Leni with the birth of Phyllis. Didn’t think anything could get me smiling today but I was wrong. This news made me happy.

Our long time friends of Reggae sound system Jugglin’ Discotheque are starting a new party at Le Bodega. In cooperation with Ivory Sound. First edition is Wednesday 30.04.08. The party is called FULL 100. Entrance is € 6,00 before midnight - € 8,00 after midnight.

Not sure we’ll make it this time. But they got our full support and we wish them all the best. And we will be at one of the next editions.

Sounds playing that night are:
Fadatic Sound
High grade sound
Uphill sound
Ivory Sound
Jugglin Discotheque

The Laid Back boys are on a roll here. New event in Antwerp. Nice flyer, nice concept.

Finally we got a new Podcast up on your page.

You can feel some pre-Southport stress hanging in the air when you meet the Onda Sonora family & friends these days. Preparing the trip, booking the ferry and the hotel for Thursday, … . Everybody nervous, everybody anxious to go. So lets throw some extra fuel on the fire with a mixtape. One to get prepared, one for the road.

I made a mix exclusively with tracks from artists that’ll play at Southport Weekender 42, except for one classic that almost made me weep last year when it was played in the Saturday afternoon session. It’s by an artist almost everybody would love to see playing live at the festival. But I guess it will stay a wild dream forever.

Anyway, with the live artists not yet announced the artists that are featuring on the mix are mostly dj’s with the exception of 2 who’s Myspace gives away they’ll be there. To keep it within the limits to make it possible to burn it on CD one artist, Zed Bias, which I had planned to play last, fell off. I had to do some serious editing on top of that to keep it under 80 minutes. So the mix is a tad longer than usually.

Here’s the playlist. I’ve put the SP link within brackets :
Eric Roberson - Couldn’t Hear Me (artist performs live)
The Sunburst Band - U Make Me So Hot (Joey Negro project & group I hope to see live once at SP / DJ)
Soul II Soul - Jazzie’s Groove / New Version (Jazzie B with the Soul II Soul Soundsystem will DJ)
Mr Scruff - Shelf Wobbler (DJ)
Restless Soul - Let Your Feelings Show (Phil Asher production / DJ)
Le Pamplemousse - You Can Get Of One Music (DJ Rahaan edit / DJ)
Stevie Wonder - If You Really Love Me (that classic and most wanted live artist)
Alistair Colling vs Tortured Soul - When You Find Your Love … Hold On (Tortured Soul perform live)
Joe Claussell - Kryptic Elements (DJ)
Snowboy - Casa Forte / Joe Claussell’s Spiritual Life Samba Remix (Snowboy and Joe Claussel / DJ)
Francesco Tristano - The Melody / C2 Remix (C2 aka Carl Craig / DJ)
Theo Parrish - Second Chances (DJ)
Phil Asher & Friends - Revolution=Solution (DJ)
Kerri Chandler - So Let The Wind Come (DJ)
Quentin Harris - Let’s Be Young (DJ)
Recloose - Maui’s Lament (DJ)
DJ Spen - Craze at Midnight (DJ)
Erro - Change For Me / Joey Negro Mix (Erro = Eric Roberson / live, Joey Negro / DJ / Southport hands in the air classic)

It’s a bit fucked if you discover a superb track because somebody plays it on the radio in memory of someone. “Traveller pt. 2” is such a song. It’s been out for a while but never really paid attention to the group. I was a bit fed up with all the mediocre new Funk that’s being released. So I ignored much of it. And then you miss the great stuff too. The Haggis Horns are far better than most similar groups but neither are they on the same height as the Daptones for me. Apart from one genius track. The aforementioned “Traveller pt. 2” track. Which is 9 minutes of pure bliss. Jazz Funk with an Afrobeat guitar, lovely strings and nice flutes that makes me wish it would never stop. Check it on their Myspace.

This release from Australian beatmaker Katalyst is out on BBE. Nice Hip Hop influenced Funk. With a killer collaboration with Steve Spacek on it. Check it out.

This weekend lots of things to do. Don’t really know what I’m going to do myself.

Friday
Antibalas Orchestra at De Kreun in Kortrijk
K’Bonus, Kwak and Smos at Café Bota in Brussels

Saturday
Osunlade & Manoo at Stereo Sushi in Antwerp
Going Underground at Churchill’s in Brussels
Dirty Niceness at Dirty Dancing in Brussels